-University of Memphis
MEMPHIS, TN. – The University of Memphis women’s basketball team will open its 2013 season against Grambling State in the first round of the Preseason WNIT it was announced Tuesday. The Tigers of Memphis will host the Grambling State Tigers on Friday, November 9th. The winner of that match-up advances to face the winner of the Middle Tennessee/Kennesaw State contest on Sunday, November 11th at a location to be determined. Losing teams in the first two rounds will play consolation games the weekend of November 16-17th. All games, in the winners and consolation brackets, are hosted by participating schools.
Grambling State will be under the guidance of a new head coach, as Patricia Bibbs returned to the Tigers of Grambling State after Grambling State went 15-15 last season. The GSU Tigers return three starters from that squad. Bibbs will be in her second stint with Grambling State, having won eight conference titles in 13 seasons in her first go-round with Grambling State. She is the only coach in the country to amass at least 500 wins at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
Memphis will counter with a young line-up, featuring seven newcomers. Memphis returns six letterwinners from last season’s 25-8 squad, including second team all-conference honoree Nicole Dickson and starting point guard Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir. The non-conference clash with Grambling State will be the first collegiate game for freshmen Asianna Fuqua-Bey, Ariel Hern, Jaymie Jackson, Courtney Powell and Mooriah Rowser and will be the first Memphis game-day action for junior college transfer Devin Mack. Jamila Ajanaku is still awaiting word on an NCAA appeal to play immediately this season after playing her first three collegiate seasons at Middle Tennessee State.
The Tigers will play one home exhibition game before opening the season in the Preseason WNIT. The exhibition game will be either Nov. 3rd or 4th.
